What are your 'special' anime? Your universal recommendations

[Killa-Eyez]

Well, thought long and hard since this thread started and still feel like I'm forgetting most. A lot of them have already been mentioned so I will try to focus more on the ones that haven't.

Trying to name the shows that hold a special place for me. How I watched them in chronological order:

Ultra-Man - Prolly doesn't hold up nowadays, if it ever did. One of the first serious (gore wise) anime shows I watched and got me craving for more. I remember being actually too young to watch it and being scared of the monsters. Netflix has a CGI reboot of it.

Baki the Grappler - Typical over the top shounen shit, but interesting how the show explains martial arts and portrays breaking physical limitations.

Cowboy Bebop - Had to name it again. My first ever introduction to Watanabe's fusion of anime and music. It was love at first sight.

FLCL - Silly fun.

Tenjho Tenge - Really dig the rascal, high school drop out feel to it but more so the fight animation. Story-wise it needed some help though.

Samurai Champloo - Already mentioned here but this one is absolutely my favorite. Good action and comedy and of course what made the show the best for me, an AWESOME soundtrack. Absolutely recommended, especially if you love Hip Hop!

School Rumble - Since GTO was already mentioned, I remember laughing hard at this shows as well.

Earth Maiden Arjuna - Released back in '01 so I was kinda late on it. Not really noteworthy for some, but some insights on world pollution stuck with me. It also has some nice visuals and especially dig its Yoko Kanno made soundtrack.

As for movies...

Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie (1994) - This one, on VHS. Like, I have a best friend who had it when I was like 8 and every time I was over I would watch it. It's what really made me appreciate animation. That, and being a huge Kung Fu head and avid gamer helped.

Hokuto no Ken - Yes, I looooove martial arts anime.

Akira - For obvious reasons. Still very alive as inspiration in today's artistry.

Grave of the Fireflies - A real tearjerker this one. Shows how anime can still hit the old nerve on real topics while still being an anime. Ironically one of the few movies by Ghibli not handled by Miyazaki.

Ninja Scroll - Prolly still one of the best implementation of fantasy-ninja anime.

Z.O.E. 2167 Idolo - Next to all the Macross and Gundams a special place holder as it showed some serious social issues, making the movie more "real" than the others for me at the time.

Interstella 5555 - The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem, lol. Another awesome portrayal of blending music with anime. No dialog, just visual and auditory bliss!

There's so much more but I've hit a blank. Will post more when I think of them.

Dig the thread btw! Just watched me some Mezzo Forte since it reminded of Kite Liberator and bcuz I'm perv. Thanks Ryll!

Edit:

Mushishi - Has a melancholic feel to it but very enjoyable.

Karas - One of my favourites at the time. Only a 6 episode OVA. Nice blend of CGI and anime on a level that isn't disturbing.

Baccano! - On some Cluedo type shiteru! Really suspenseful with a nice twist. Ichigo from Bleach VA is in it.